Telephone
Vehicle features and options
This chapter describes model-specific equipment, systems, and functions that are currently available, or may become available in the future, even if they are not present in the vehicle.
Additional information:
Vehicle equipment.
Calling via Bluetooth®
Principle
Mobile phones connected to the vehicle via Bluetooth can be operated via iDrive. The hands-free system in the vehicle can be used.
General information
Before using the mobile phone via Bluetooth®, follow the operating instructions of the mobile phone.
Safety information
Observe when operating systems and devices
Functional requirements
Standby state is switched on.
The smartphone is connected to the vehicle via Bluetooth®.
The telephone function is activated.
Additional information:
Bluetooth connection.
Opening the Communication menu
You can open the Communication menu in the following ways:
Via iDrive, 
select the Communication menu.
Depending on equipment, press the Communication menu button on the center console or control display.
Priority of the phones
If several mobile phones are registered to the vehicle, the priority of the mobile phones can be specified. The mobile phone with the highest priority is preferred, for instance for outgoing calls and messages.
Apps menu
"All apps"
"Mobile devices"
"Settings"
"Telephone priorities"
Select the desired device.
Select the desired priority by sliding.
Incoming calls
General information
If the number of the caller is saved in the contacts and is transferred from the network, the name of the contact will be displayed. Otherwise, only the phone number is displayed.
Accepting a call
Via iDrive:
"Accept"
Press the button on the steering wheel:
Use the thumbwheel on the steering wheel to select from the list in the instrument cluster: "Accept"
The call is conducted via the vehicle’s hands-free system.
Rejecting a call
Via iDrive:
"Reject"
Use the thumbwheel on the steering wheel to select from the list in the instrument cluster: "Reject"
Ending a call
Via iDrive:
"End call"
Press the button on the steering wheel:
Turning off ring tone
Depending on the vehicle type, the ring tone of the incoming call can be suppressed as follows:
Press the volume thumbwheel on the steering wheel.
Press the volume button on the radio.
Selecting ring tone
Depending on the mobile phone, the phone ring tone for an incoming call can be selected.
Communication menu
"Mobile devices"
Select the desired mobile phone.
"Device settings"
"Use device ringtone"
Last calls
General information
The last outgoing, missed and incoming calls are transferred to the vehicle. Depending on the equipment, the calls are transmitted from the main phone and additional telephones.
Displaying recent calls
Communication menu
"Recent calls"
The list of recent calls can be filtered according to different criteria.
Dialing a number from the call list
Select the desired number from the call list:
The call is established via the mobile phone that the entry originates from.
Press and hold the desired number from the call list:
"Call via": if two telephones are connected to the vehicle, it is possible to select from which mobile phone the connection is to be established.
Active calls
Adjusting the volume
Depending on the vehicle type, the volume of the call can be adjusted as follows:
Turn the thumbwheel on the steering wheel.
Press the corresponding buttons on the steering wheel.
Turn the thumbwheel in the center console.
Turn the volume control button on the radio.
Volume settings
During an active call, the microphone sensitivity can be set.
"Microphone sensitivity"
Adjusting the desired volume.
Call transfer
A call made on the mobile phone can be continued via the hands-free system of the vehicle and vice versa.
"Transfer to vehicle"
"Transfer to telephone"
Putting a call on hold and continuing it
An active call can be put on hold and resumed later on.
"Hold"
"Resume call"
Muting the microphone
When a call is active, the microphone can be muted.
"Mute"
A muted microphone is automatically activated in the following situations:
When a new connection is established.
When switching between call parties with toggle.
Dialing a number
Communication menu
"More"
"Dial number"
Enter the numbers.
Select the icon.
The connection is established via the mobile phone with the highest priority.
Press and hold the icon.
"Call via": if two telephones are connected to the vehicle, it is possible to select from which mobile phone the connection is to be established.
Calls with multiple parties
Principle
Switching between multiple calls or two calls are interconnected.
Functional requirement
The functions must be supported by the mobile phone and the mobile network provider.
Accepting a call while speaking to another party
If a second call comes in during an ongoing call, a call waiting signal sounds where appropriate.
"Accept"
The call is accepted and the existing call is put on hold.
Establishing a second call
An additional call can be established while a call is active.
"Number pad"
Dial a new phone number.
The existing call is put on hold.
A call can also be added via selection lists:
"Contacts"
"Recent calls"
"Dial number"
Switching between two calls, toggle
Switch to the call on hold:
"Resume call"
Telephone conference
When two telephone calls on a mobile phone are connected to one telephone conference, the following is shown on the control display: "Conference call"
Hands-free system
Principle
The hands-free system makes it possible to make calls via the microphone and the speakers in the vehicle.
General information
Calls that are being made on the hands-free system can be continued on the mobile phone and vice versa.
Switching from the mobile phone to the hands-free system
Calls begun outside the vehicle's Bluetooth range can be continued on the hands-free system when standby state is turned on.
If the mobile phone has already been registered in the vehicle, the hands-free mode will automatically switched on, depending on the mobile phone.
If the system does not switch over automatically, follow the instructions on the display of the mobile phone. Refer also to the operating instructions of the mobile phone.
Switching from the hands-free system to the mobile phone
If the vehicle switches to idle state or is exited with the vehicle key:
Depending on the mobile phone, a call started via the hands-free system can be continued on the mobile phone.
Follow the instructions on the display of the mobile phone. Refer also to the operating instructions of the mobile phone.
Contacts
General information
When a mobile phone is registered, the contacts saved in the mobile phone are transferred to the vehicle. The transfer of the contacts must be consented to, where applicable.
The contacts sent are displayed in the vehicle as long as the mobile phone is connected to the vehicle.
Contact pictures can be displayed if the mobile phone supports this function.
Contact entries having identical names are combined in the vehicle into one contact.
Functional requirements
The transfer of contacts is supported by the mobile phone.
Some mobile phones require certain settings, like authorization, on the device. Follow the instructions for operating your mobile phone.
Displaying contacts
The contacts are listed in alphabetical order. Depending on the number of contacts, contact search and quick search are offered.
Communication menu
"Contacts"
Filter contacts
You can choose from which mobile phone the contacts should be displayed.
Communication menu
"Contacts"
"Filter"
Select the desired mobile phone.
Display of first and last name
It is possible to select whether the first name or the late name is displayed first.
Communication menu
"Contacts"
Press and hold a contact.
"Display order"
Select desired order.
Sorting contacts
Contacts can be sorted by first name or last name.
Communication menu
"Contacts"
Press and hold a contact.
"Sorting order"
Select the desired setting.
Contact search
Contact search is available with more than 30 contacts.
Communication menu
"Contacts"
"Search"
Enter the letters.
The hits are displayed on the right side.
Select the desired contact.
Quick search in contacts
The quick search is available when there are more than 30 contacts.
Communication menu
"Contacts"
When there is a first contact with a new initial letter or a new syllable, the initial letter or syllable will be highlighted.
Select a highlighted letter or syllable.
Letters and possibly syllables for which an entry exists will be displayed in alphabetical order.
Select the first letter or syllable of the desired contact.
Detail search
The contact search can be extended to individual details of the contact such as the phone number.
The detailed search is available when there are more than 30 contacts.
Communication menu
"Contacts"
Press and hold a contact.
"Search in contact details"
Enter search term for contact search.
Selecting contact address as destination
If the vehicle is equipped with a navigation system, a contact can be adopted as a destination.
Communication menu
"Contacts"
Select the desired contact.
Select the related address.
The address is transmitted to the navigation.
Confirm destination to start the navigation.
Displaying contact pictures
Depending on the mobile phone, contact photos can be displayed.
Communication menu
"Contacts"
Press and hold a contact.
"Show contact picture"
System limits
At high ambient temperatures, the functions of the mobile phone may be limited and possibly no longer carried out.
Do not operate a mobile phone that is connected to the vehicle on the mobile phone keyboard, as this may lead to a malfunction.
Frequently Asked Questions
All prerequisites are met and all required steps were completed in the specified order. Despite that, the mobile device does not function as expected.
In this case, the following explanations can help:
Why can telephone functions not be used via iDrive?
Phone functions are not configured for the mobile phone.
Connect the mobile phone with the telephone function.
Why are no or not all telephone book entries displayed or why are they incomplete?
Transmission of the telephone book entries is not yet complete.
It is possible that only the telephone book entries of the mobile phone or the SIM card are transmitted.
It may not be possible to display telephone book entries with special characters.
It may not be possible to transmit contacts from social networks.
The number of phone book entries to be transmitted is too high.
Data volume of the contact too large, for instance due to stored information such as memos.
Reduce the data volume of the contact.
The mobile phone has only been connected as an audio source.
Configure the mobile phone and connect it with the telephone function.
Contact was created in the contact list of the phone after the last synchronization.
Synchronize contacts again: "Reload contacts"
How can the telephone connection quality be improved?
Increase the strength of the Bluetooth signal on the mobile phone.
Adjust the volume of the microphone separately in the sound settings.
If all points listed have been checked and the required function is still not available: contact the hotline, an authorized service center or another qualified service center or repair shop.
Further functions
General information
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the mobile phone and the apps installed on it, the following mobile phone content is transferred to the vehicle:
Messages.
Texts for voice recognition/dictation function.
Data transmission can take several minutes.
If necessary, functions must be enabled on the mobile phone or by the wireless service provider.
Messages
Displaying messages
Depending on the mobile phone, the number of messages displayed may vary.
Communication menu
"More"
"Messages"
Filtering messages
Communication menu
"More"
"Messages"
"Filter"
The list of messages can be filtered according to different criteria.
Selecting messages
Communication menu
"More"
"Messages"
Select the desired message.
The message history with the corresponding contact is displayed.
Replying to a message
Select the desired message.
Tap on the answers.
The recipient of the message is automatically entered.
"Send via"
If necessary, select the mobile phone from which the message is to be sent.
Select the desired setting.
Dictate message or accept message from template.
Creating new message
Communication menu
"More"
"Messages"
"New message"
"Send via"
If necessary, select the mobile phone from which the message is to be sent.
"To:"
Enter phone number or contact.
Select the desired setting.
Dictate message or accept message from template.
Dictation function
Principle
Spoken words are detected by speech recognition and converted into text. The text can be supplemented and deleted on the control display if required.
General information
The text can be dictated to answer messages or create a new message.
The function depends on the vehicle equipment and the national-market version.
To use the functions, data is transmitted to a service provider via an encrypted connection and stored locally there.
Functional requirements
The mobile phone supports the function.
"Online speech processing" is activated.
"Contact upload for dictation" is activated.
Activating/deactivating voice recognition for contact names
Communication menu
"Mobile devices"
Select the desired mobile phone.
"Device settings"
"Contact upload for dictation"
The contact names of the connected mobile phones are transmitted to speech recognition. This improves the recognition of contact names during text conversion.
Calling with the Personal eSIM
Principle
There does not need to be a mobile phone in the vehicle. Telephone functions are performed directly via the Personal eSIM. This improves call quality by using the vehicle's cell phone antennas.
Functional requirement
The Personal eSIM is registered in the vehicle.
The mobile phone is connected to the vehicle via Bluetooth.
The mobile phone is linked to the Personal eSIM.
Additional information:
Personal eSIM.
Pairing mobile phones to personal eSIM
General information
By pairing the desired mobile phone, its contacts can be used in the vehicle.
Pairing telephones
Apps menu
"All apps"
"Mobile devices"
"Personal eSIM"
Activate eSIM telephone function:
"Telephone via eSIM"
"Link telephone"
Pair the desired telephone.
Pairing alternative telephones
By pairing an alternative mobile phone to the personal eSIM, its contacts can be used in the vehicle.
Apps menu
"All apps"
"Mobile devices"
"Personal eSIM"
Select entry to pair a telephone.
Select telephone from the list.
"Connect new telephone"
"Do not link telephone"
The telephone will not be paired to the eSIM.
Select the desired mobile phone and pair it to the eSIM.
Activating/deactivating the telephone function of the eSIM
Apps menu
"All apps"
"Mobile devices"
"Personal eSIM"
"Telephone via eSIM"
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